Leopard print: Trendy or timeless?

Twitter friend Andy sent me this link today, a Slate essay about leopard print from Barney's creative director Simon Doonan. Given my closet, it's a law of averages that I'd be wearing SOME leopard. Indeed, I glanced down, considered my leopard print cardigan and let out a there-goes-the-neighborhood sigh.

I've been deep in the leopard game since age 15, when I first got a pink baby doll tee-shirt with a little leopard heart in the middle. Intoxicating. I became quite literally drawn to it, like a dolty bird to a ball of tinfoil. These days, friends roll their eyes when we shop, because it's like I physically can't NOT go to it.

Leopard has an air of spunk, an old-fashioned pinup vibe that makes outfits immediately interesting. Because the base colors are neutral, leopard looks fantastic with bright, solid shades. It takes a black dress and makes it special. It's sexy, not smutty when done well. Paired with lipstick and heels and sunglasses, it's an instant mental promotion. You can run the company AND seduce the pool boy!

Leopard is drugs.

Simon Doonan argues that leopard is not the trend the unfocused fashion world would have you believe, because most women lean toward bland "investment pieces" instead of bold personality picks. It's an interesting thought, and I think he's right. But I've never thought leopard was a trend at all. It has been around since the beginning of time (just look at actress Gene Tierney and her coordinating pet here in the 1940s), and it never goes away. It's timeless, the way all inspirations from nature are timeless. Because they're, you know, natural.

We must be realistic, though. Leopard can be dangerous, hard as good cheese to pull off. It's a fine, fine line between sophisticated butt-kicking CEO and nutty bag lady picking glitter out of the trash can. And thusly, it scares people away. My favorite quote from Simon's piece?

The truth is that leopard print is challenging. It is not for sissies and comes with some serious baggage. It is tacky, theatrical, and sad, albeit fabulously so.

So well-said.

Want in? Check out these styles from Express and Macys and Ann Taylor. If you're new to the land of leopard, start out small. Pair a leopard scarf or blouse with classic pieces like dark jeans or a pencil skirt. Look for leopard in structured, figure-friendly shapes. Inexpensive ballet flats, like these for $20 from Old Navy, are a perfect place to start, too. Kind of like testing lime green nail polish on your toes.

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Stephanie Hayes , addicted to heels for 15 years, has been experimenting with ballet flats, boots and cute sneakers lately. Her poor, tired feet thank her. She can never get enough animal print, and her eye shadow collection has become a bit of a hoard. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She knows a healthy swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit better. She can be reached at (813) 226-3394 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at (850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.